Page 55 of Sunburned

“Won’t they want the money back?” I asked.

“I doubt it’s often that anyone gets stolen money back,” he said. “And no one company lost enough for them to pursue it. We didn’t leave a digital trail, and I don’t think Cody will flip on you. Maybe on me, but not on you.”

“He wouldn’t do that to you,” I said. “You’re blood.”

“You didn’t see the fight we got in the other night,” he muttered, studying the discoloration on his knuckles. “My face is just now looking normal again.”

“I heard you beat him up pretty bad, too.”

Anger flared behind his eyes. “You’ve been talking to him?”

“To find out what was going on with Ian,” I returned. He opened his mouth to speak, but I went on before he could get a word out. “Don’t start with me. You’re the one who fucked things up between us, not Cody.”

“You’re saying he didn’t tell you to come over?” he asked pointedly. “Because why the hell else would you show up at two in the morning?”

“That is completely beside the point,” I snapped. “You shouldn’t have been fucking some girl behind my back.”

“It was a mistake,” he pleaded, changing his tone as he leaned forward and took my hand. “I fucked up, and I am sorry. But it was a one-time—”

“I’m done, Tyson.” I pulled my hand away, rising to my feet. “I hope you’ll use whatever you stole to pay for Cody’s defense.”

“My parents are paying for his defense,” he said, standing, “and they’ll put up the money for bail. He’ll maybe spend a few months in a fancy white-collar prison, then he’ll be out. He’ll be fine.”

“No, he won’t,” I snapped, incredulous. “This will follow himaround for the rest of his life. Try getting the kind of job he’s qualified for as a felon.”

“He can work for me—”

I looked around. “Where?”

“I’m gonna take this money and start a company—”

“And here I’d thought it was for my education.”

“You said you didn’t want it!”

I glared at him, stewing in my indignation. “Fuck off, Tyson.”

“You’ll forgive me when you see what I can do,” he said.

I drew back. “You realize my problem with you has nothing to do with what you can or can’t do.”

Through the window, I could see my mom stirring, looking around for me. “You have to go,” I said. “Don’t come here again.”

Chapter 16

Laurent didn’t return from his phone call, and after a few minutes of hiding behind the dumpster listening to Gisèle comfort Samira, I worked up my courage to furtively slip back inside. The club was more crowded now, every surface turned into a dance floor where euphoric patrons gyrated in the spinning lights. I threaded my way through the throng to our table and scooted behind the table to grab my purse.

I pulled up short. Tyson was sitting on the banquette hidden by the crush of dancers, calmly nursing a Coors Light. He looked up at me, his face unreadable, obscured by shadow. Unsure what to do, I remained still as I weighed my options, as if he were a wild animal that might attack if I made any sudden movements.

“Happy birthday,” I said finally. It had been nearly midnight when we arrived, so I figured it had to be tomorrow now.

He didn’t smile, but raised his beer to me in salutation, which was something.

“I’ve just gotta get my purse,” I said, reaching behind him to grab it.

“I’m paying you to find out who’s blackmailing me, not to fuck my butler,” he said in a low voice as I leaned past him.

I recoiled, steadying myself on the edge of the table behind me. “Excuse me?”

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